Friday, August 17, 2012

The Tree Troll of the forest will devour all that ventures within. But a little fairy cast her spell and charmed the Troll into becoming her protector. She now dwells within his heart.This piece was inspired by Seattle artist Kim Graham who makes larger than life sculptures. Her giant Tree Troll about 20 feet high was the inspiration.This is my Treasures of the Gypsy challenge doll and incorporates the theme Charmed and Mystical. This project is certainly the most ambitious I have ever undertaken!I started with a latticed piece of ivy wood for the base and added wire armature covered with foil. Then paper mache was applied. Little faces are embedded in the arms.

After the paper mache was dry, with a little help from my oven, I painted the sculpture with black gesso. It took days and days before I stopped seeing tiny pin holes where either the foil or the paper mache showed through. There were so many nooks, crannies and crevices and the gesso had to be pounced into these areas with a small stiff brush.

After the black gesso dried, I painted the sculpture with acrylic paint and added highlights. i was still finding those awful little pin holes, and had to constantly turn the sculpture at all angles to get them painted.

A few more highlights were added and a 7" Fairy was embedded into the cavity. She is made from Treasures of the Gypsy silks and baubles.

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Patti LaValley

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WELCOME TO MY BLOG

Here is where I share my creative life. I enjoy designing cloth dolls of all styles, and anything fiber related!

I am a self taught cloth doll artist. I live and work from my home studio in the beautiful countryside of Rainier, Oregon. Presently I teach online classes as well as hands on workshops for events and doll clubs, and have a line of cloth doll patterns.

My dolls and patterns are sold from my website at Patti's' Dolls. Please come take a tour of my site when you have the time. There's much to see and I'm sure you will enjoy your visit!